五月廿四日

神是應當稱頌的，他並沒有推卻我的禱告……（詩66：20）

若我們誠實地回想我們過去的禱告，就必驚奇神為什麼要應允那樣的禱告。有很多人想他們的禱告是值得蒙悅納的——像法利賽人一樣；但是一位真基督徒，若仔細回顧一下，必然為他的禱告痛哭失聲，如果他能再回到原路上去的話，他必定要更加懇切地禱告。基督徒呀！記住，你的禱告是多麼冷淡。當你在內室中的時候，你應當和雅各一樣拚命摔跤，但你卻不是這樣，你的祈求既小而又少一一實在跟不上謙卑、堅信並確信的雅各。他曾說：“你不給我祝福，我就不容你去。”可是，奇妙得很，神仍然聽了你那些冷淡的禱告，不但是聽見，而且也應允了那些禱告。你再回憶一下，你的禱告是多麼稀少呀！除非你有難處的時候，你才常到施恩座前，可是當你被救拔之後，你為什麼又不常祈求了呢?雖然你像以前一樣停止了禱告，可是神卻仍不停地賜福。當你忽略了施恩座時，神卻沒有離棄它，神的榮光（Shekinah）卻仍照耀著二基路伯的雙翼。神仍關心我們危急之時所作的間歇的懇求，按我們的需要一一賜給我們，真是一件希奇的事。當人急需之時才禱告他，但在得了恩憐之後卻忽略了他；在人沒法時才不得不就近他，但當恩典多、愁苦少的時候就不與他交談。雖然如此，神仍聽人的呼求，你想他是一位什麼樣的神呢?願他這種聽禱告的大恩慈感動我們的心，使我們今後能“靠著聖靈，隨時多方禱告祈求”。

May 24

"Blessed be God, which hath nor turned away my prayer." -- Psalm 66:20

In looking back upon the character of our prayers, if we do it honestly, we shall be filled with wonder that God has ever answered them. There may be some who think their prayers worthy of acceptance--as the Pharisee did; but the true Christian, in a more enlightened retrospect, weeps over his prayers, and if he could retrace his steps he would desire to pray more earnestly. Remember, Christian, how cold thy prayers have been. When in thy closet thou shouldst have wrestled as Jacob did; but instead thereof, thy petitions have been faint and few--far removed from that humble, believing, persevering faith, which cries, "I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me." Yet, wonderful to say, God has heard these cold prayers of thine, and not only heard, but answered them. Reflect also, how infrequent have been thy prayers, unless thou hast been in trouble, and then thou hast gone often to the mercy-seat: but when deliverance has come, where has been thy constant supplication? Yet, notwithstanding thou hast ceased to pray as once thou didst, God has not ceased to bless. When thou hast neglected the mercy-seat, God has not deserted it, but the bright light of the Shekinah has always been visible between the wings of the cherubim. Oh! it is marvellous that the Lord should regard those intermittent spasms of importunity which come and go with our necessities. What a God is He thus to hear the prayers of those who come to Him when they have pressing wants, but neglect Him when they have received a mercy; who approach Him when they are forced to come, but who almost forget to address Him when mercies are plentiful and sorrows are few. Let His gracious kindness in hearing such prayers touch our hearts, so that we may henceforth be found "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit."